Orbital Sciences X-34

E513230

The Orbital Sciences X-34 was an experimental, unmanned reusable rocket plane developed in the 1990s to test technologies for low-cost, rapid-turnaround space access.

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Statements (42)

Predicate Object
instanceOf experimental reusable rocket plane
testbed vehicle
unmanned spaceplane
carrierAircraft Lockheed L-1011 TriStar NERFINISHED
category X-plane
experimental spacecraft
reusable launch system technology demonstrator
controlSystem fly-by-wire
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
crew unmanned
designation X-34 NERFINISHED
developmentStartDate mid-1990s
engineType Fastrac rocket engine NERFINISHED
firstFlightType captive-carry tests
flightProfile suborbital
fundingAgency NASA NERFINISHED
guidanceSystem autonomous guidance and navigation
intendedLaunchSite Dryden Flight Research Center NERFINISHED
Wallops Flight Facility NERFINISHED
landingMethod unpowered horizontal runway landing
launchConfiguration air-launched from carrier aircraft
length approximately 17.8 meters
manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation NERFINISHED
maximumSpeed approximately Mach 8 target design
numberBuilt multiple test airframes
operator NASA
program NASA Reusable Launch Vehicle program NERFINISHED
programCancellationDate 2001
programGoal demonstrate aircraft-like operations for space vehicles
reduce cost of access to space
propulsionType liquid-fueled rocket engine
purpose demonstrate rapid-turnaround operations
technology demonstrator for low-cost space access
testbed for reusable launch vehicle technologies
relatedProgram NASA X-33 NERFINISHED
reusability reusable
status canceled
structureMaterial composite materials
testRole autonomous flight control testing
rapid turnaround ground operations
thermal protection system evaluation
wingspan approximately 8.9 meters

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

NASA X-plane series includes Orbital Sciences X-34